GATE 7 February 2026 Subject Wise Analysis: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, has commenced the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, from today, February 7, 2026. The exam will be conducted in two sessions for various subjects. The forenoon session is scheduled for 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and the afternoon session will be from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The GATE 7 February 2026 Subject Wise Analysis and live updates according to students reviews will be updated.
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GATE 7 February 2026 Subject Wise Analysis | Shift 1 and 2 Difficulty Level
The GATE 2026 Exam carries 100 marks in total and includes General Aptitude and subject (compulsory and optional) sections. Candidates appeared for the exam today can check the GATE 2026 Feb 7 Subject Wise Analysis and Paper Difficulty Level for shift 1 and shift 2 papers as soon as the exam ends. This will assist the candidates in analysing their performance.
GATE 2026 Feb 7 Shift 1 Subject Wise Analysis and Question Paper Difficulty Level
The GATE 2026 Day 1 Shift 1 exam was conducted for Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Geology and Geophysics, Instrumentation Engineering, Mathematics, Mining Engineering, Textile Engineering and Fibre Science, Engineering Sciences, and Life Sciences papers. Students appearing can check the subject-wise paper analysis. Here is the subject-wise analysis of shift 1 papers.
| Subjects | Overall Difficulty Level | General Aptitude Difficulty | Subject Difficulty Level |
| AG (Agricultural Engineering) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| ES (Environmental Science and Engineering) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| GG (Geology and Geophysics) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| IN (Instrumentation Engineering) | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| MA (Mathematics) | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| ME (Mining Engineering) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| TE (Textile Engineering and Fibre Science) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| XE (Engineering Sciences) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| XL (Life Sciences) | Easy to Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
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GATE 2026 Feb 7 Shift 2 Subject Wise Analysis and Question Paper Difficulty Level
The GATE 2026 Day 1 Shift 1 exam was for Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Geomatics Engineering, Physics, and Humanities and Social Sciences. Here is the subject-wise exam and question paper analysis. Here is the subject-wise analysis of shift 2 papers.
| Subjects | Overall Difficulty Level | General Aptitude Difficulty | Subject Difficulty Level |
| AE (Aerospace Engineering) | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| BT (Biotechnology) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult (Mixed Reaction) |
| CH (Chemical Engineering) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult (Mixed Reaction) |
| CY (Chemistry) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| GE (Geomatics Engineering) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PH (Physics) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult (Mixed Reaction) |
| XH (Humanities and Social Sciences) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
While the exact GATE 7 February 2026 attendance will be released by the IIT Guwahati when the exam concludes, the recent reports suggest that around 1.6 to 1.95 candidates will appear for the exam. The national-level exam is conducted for the students to secure admission into prestigious institutes like the IITs, NITs, and IISc in the M.Tech/M.S categories.
Live Updates
In the GATE 2026 Exam, the following types of negative markings are applicable, as mentioned below.
- For MCQs of 1 mark, the negative marking of 1/3 is applicable.
- For MCQs of 2 marks, the negative marking of 2/3 is applicable.
From the final answer key of the GATE 2026, candidates can find the correct and incorrect attempts. They can also calculate their negative markings. Hence, marks obtained by the candidates can also be calculated.
The final answer key of the GATE 2026 Exam is expected to be released in February or March 2026. Once the final answer key of this exam is released, candidates can download it from the official website.
The exam-conducting authority has not declared any instructions to carry a passport-size photograph to the GATE 2026 Exam Center. However, they can carry a passport-size photograph to the exam center if their photo identity card is old or the photo is unclear.
There is no limitation on the number of attempts to write the GATE 2026 Exam. A candidate can write this exam as many times as he/ she wants.
All the PWD candidates appearing in the GATE 2026 Exam will get a compensatory exam of 1 hour for this exam.
No, a candidate can not appear in two papers in the GATE 2025 Exam. A candidate can write only one paper in this exam.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Humanities & Social Sciences paper in the GATE 2026 was moderate to difficult.
In the GATE 2026 Exam, the difficulty level of the Physics Paper in Shift 2 was moderate to difficult, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
The difficulty level of the Geomatics Engineering Paper in Shift 2 of the GATE 2026 Exam was moderate, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Chemistry paper in the GATE 2026 was moderate to difficult.
In the GATE 2026 Exam, the difficulty level of the Chemical Engineering Paper in Shift 2 was moderately difficult, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
The difficulty level of the Biotechnology Paper in Shift 2 of the GATE 2026 Exam was easy to moderate, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Aerospace Engineering paper in the GATE 2026 was moderate to difficult.
Candidates will not be allowed to leave the exam hall during the GATE 2026 Exam. Hence, candidates will be allowed to leave the exam hall only after the end of this exam.
No, entry to the exam hall is strictly prohibited during the GATE 2026 Exam. Hence, candidates can not enter the exam hall at any time during the exam.
Yes, a candidate who is going to appear in the GATE 2026 Exam can take a water bottle to the exam hall. However, the water bottle must be transparent.
Candidates will be provided with virtual scientific calculators during the GATE 2026 Exam. Those virtual calculators will be available on the computer screen.
No, a candidate will not be provided any extra time to complete the GATE 2026 Exam. They need to complete their exam within the time allotted by the exam-conducting authority.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 36 to 40 to qualify for the Humanities & Social Sciences paper for the general candidates.
To qualify for the Physics Paper, a candidate from the general category has to score at least 32 to 36 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam, as per the cutoff marks of the previous years.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 32 to 34 to qualify for the Chemistry paper for the general candidates.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 32 to 34 to qualify for the Chemistry paper for the general candidates.
The provisional answer key of the GATE 2026 will be released in February or March 2026. However, no official date has been declared by the exam-conducting authority regarding the release of the provisional answer key of this exam.
The question papers will be available on the official website of the GATE 2026. Candidates can visit the official website to download the question papers after the commencement of the exam.
To qualify for the Chemical Engineering Paper, a candidate from the general category has to score at least 29 to 32 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam, as per the cutoff marks of the previous years.
A candidate from the general category has to score at least 35 to 37 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam to qualify for the Biotechnology Paper, according to the cutoff marks of the previous years.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 34 to 36 to qualify for the Aerospace Engineering paper for the general candidates.
Candidates can manage their time during the GATE 2026 Exam by following the tips mentioned below.
- Answer only the questions you can solve confidently. Attempt those questions at the beginning.
- Focus on accuracy while solving questions. Do not rush while solving the questions.
- Do not waste a lot of time solving any question. Skip it and try again at the end.
- Follow a timeline to complete each section of the question paper.
Candidates can avoid negative marking during the GATE 2026 Exam by following the tips mentioned below.
- Stay focused while answering the questions.
- Prioritize accuracy when solving the questions.
- Do not be worried on number of attempts during this exam.
- Avoid blind guessing while answering the questions.
All the candidates who are appearing in the GATE 2026 Exam have to reach the exam center before 2:30 PM. After that, no candidate will be allowed to enter the exam center.
According to the notification declared by the exam conducting authority, the gate closing time for the 2nd shift of the GATE 2026 Exam is 2:30 PM.
The reporting time for the 2nd shift of the GATE 2026 Exam will start at 1:30 PM. All the candidates have to reach the exam center before 2:25 pm for the 2nd shift of
The second shift of the GATE 2026 Exam will start at 2:30 PM as declared by the exam-conducting authority. Candidates have to enter the exam hall within the reporting time for the exam of this shift.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Life Sciences paper was moderately difficult.
The difficulty level of the Engineering Sciences paper was moderate to difficult, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
The difficulty level of the Mining Engineering paper was moderate, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Mathematics paper was moderate to difficult.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Mathematics paper was moderate to difficult.
The difficulty level of the Instrumentation Engineering paper was moderate to difficult, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
According to the candidates who have appeared in this exam, the difficulty level of the Geology & Geophysics paper was moderately difficult.
The difficulty level of the Environmental Science & Engineering paper was easy to moderate, according to the candidates who have appeared in this exam.
The last-minute tips for the candidates going to write the GATE 2026 Exam are mentioned as follows:
- Just take a look at the short notes, formulas, equations, etc.
- Do not read any detailed topic before the exam.
- Avoid covering any new topic a few hours before the exam
To qualify for the Life Science Paper, a candidate has to score at least 30 to 33 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam, as per the cutoff marks of the previous years.
A candidate has to score at least 28 to 32 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam to qualify for the Engineering Sciences Paper, according to the cutoff marks of the previous years.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 34 to 35 to qualify for the Textile Engineering & Fibre Science paper.
To qualify for the Mining Engineering Paper, a candidate has to score at least 31 to 33 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam, as per the cutoff marks of the previous years.
A candidate has to score at least 27 to 30 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam to qualify for the Mathematics Paper, according to the cutoff marks of the previous years.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 31 to 33 to qualify in the Instrumentation Engineering paper.
To qualify for the Geology & Geophysics Paper, a candidate has to score at least 32 to 35 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam, as per the cutoff marks of the previous years.
A candidate has to score at least 27 to 30 marks in the GATE 2026 Exam to qualify for the Environmental Science & Engineering Paper, according to the cutoff marks of the previous years.
According to the cutoff marks of the previous years, the expected marks in the GATE 2026 Exam are 28 to 30 to qualify in the Agricultural Engineering paper.
The 1st shift of the GATE 2026 Exam will end at 12: 30 PM, as per the official notification of the exam-conducting authority.
There will be a total of 65 questions asked in the GATE 2026 Exam. Out of these 65 questions, 10 questions will be asked from the General Aptitude section, and 55 questions will be asked from the subject opted by the candidate.
No, candidates do not need to carry any loose sheets to the GATE 2026 Exam Center. They will be provided with loose sheets inside the exam hall for the rough work.
The following photo identity cards of the candidates are accepted at the GATE 2026 Exam center as mentioned below.
- Aadhar Card
- Driving License
- Voter Identity Card
- Passport
- PAN Card
The following items will be strictly prohibited inside the GATE 2026 Exam center, as mentioned below:
- Any bag, pencil box, etc.
- Any electronic gadget or Bluetooth device, such as a headphone, smart watch, mobile, calculator, etc.
- Any metallic device, books, papers, notes, etc.
- Any food item, fruits, chocolates, etc.
The following items will be strictly prohibited inside the GATE 2026 Exam center, as mentioned below:
- Any bag, pencil box, etc.
- Any electronic gadget or Bluetooth device, such as a headphone, smart watch, mobile, calculator, etc.
- Any metallic device, books, papers, notes, etc.
- Any food item, fruits, chocolates, etc.
No, a soft copy of the admit card will not be allowed inside the GATE 2026 Exam Center. All the candidates must carry the printed copy of their admit card to write this exam.
The following items a candidate can carry to the GATE 2026 Exam Hall are mentioned as follows:
- A printed copy of the GATE 2026 Admit Card.
- An original photo identity card of the candidate.
- A transparent water bottle.
- Pen, Pencil, etc.
- Face mask, Sanitizer, etc.
No, I can not write the GATE 2026 Exam without having the printed copy of the admit card. Candidates who do not have their printed admit card will not be allowed to enter the exam center.
No, candidates who are going to write the GATE 2026 Exam cannot carry mobile phones into the exam hall. Mobile phones are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall.
A candidate who is going to take the GATE 2026 Exam must carry the following documen, ts as mentioned below.
- A printed copy of the GATE 2026 Admit Card of the candidate.
- A valid photo identity card in original, such as Aadhar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, etc.
There is no particular dress code mentioned by the exam-conducting authority for the candidates appearing in the GATE 226 Exam. However, candidates must follow the points mentioned below before going to write this exam.
- All the candidates should wear light coloured and simple clothes.
- Avoid dresses with metal tags and excessive pockets.
Here are some guidelines for the candidates which they must follow on the day fofthe GATE 2026 Exam as follows:
- Candidates must carry all the essential items, such as the admit card, photo identity card, etc.
- Candidates should not carry any prohibited items inside the exam center.
- Candidates must reach the exam center at least 1 hour before the beginning of the exam.
- Do not be involved in any unfair activities inside the exam hall.
- Do not leave the exam center before the completion of the exam.
The gate closing time for the 1st shift of the GATE 2026 Exam will be 9:25 am, as per the official notification.
According to the official notification of the exam-conducting authority, the reporting time of the 1st shift of the GATE 2026 Exam will be from 8:00 AM to 9:25 AM. After this time, no candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre.
According to the official notification of the exam-conducting authority, the first shift of the GATE 2026 Exam will begin at 9:30 AM. All the candidates must enter the exam center within the reporting time.